The summit stalemate

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“Rather than start at the outset talking about legislative process, what I suggest is we talk about the substance and how we might help the American people deal with costs, coverage, insurance, these other issues,” Obama said. “We might surprise ourselves and find out that we agree more than we disagree and that may help dictate how we move forward. It might turn out that we have too big of a gulf.”

After the contentious opening remarks, the conversation settled largely into a more wonky debate over controlling health care costs. Democrats offered anecdotes on why health care reform is needed now, while Republicans pointed out critical statements by the Congressional Budget Office and others on the Democratic health care plan.

By an hour into the summit, only six out of the more than 40 lawmakers and top administration officials present had spoken. And in fact, even the time allocation gave the two parties something to disagree on, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pointing out at around 11:45 a.m. that Republicans has 24 minutes to talk, while Democrats had 52 minutes.

“We’re going to have to be a little more disciplined in our time,” Obama nudged lawmakers from both parties, each of whom spoke for about 10 minutes.

Obama acknowledged being guilty himself, but added light-heartedly that he could do it “because I am the president.”

Democrats went into the summit wanting to show that there were many areas of agreement with Republicans – a target that congressional aides said they felt satisfied the president was hitting. Republican aides, however, said the focus on policy agreements reinforced their goal of showing the GOP is reasonable and open to reform.

But with the large number of people around the table in Blair House, the summit lacked the kind of free-wielding exchange that would allow both parties to score more rhetorical points. Each lawmaker tried to give what amounted to an opening statement on their first go-around, usually speaking for more than 10 minutes a piece. Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) spoke for the first time at 3:45 p.m.

In an another testy exchange, Obama disagreed with Alexander’s statement that the CBO had concluded that Democratic reforms will raise premiums, saying that "is just not the case."

"No, no, no, no, no," Obama responded. "This is an example of where we've got to get our facts straight. Let me respond to what you just said. Because it's not factually accurate." He said costs for families would go down, and that the CBO says families might choose to buy better coverage that would be more expensive. "They didn't say the actual premiums would be going up," he said.

“With respect, you’re wrong,” Alexander said.

Obama replies: "I'm pretty certain I'm not wrong. ... I promise you we'll get this settled before the day's out."

The CBO found that premiums would be reduced for some policyholders, while others would see increases, depending on whether they buy insurance on the individual or group market. But the reason why some people would see their costs rise is because they would choose to buy more comprehensive insurance plans that would inevitably be more expensive.

Right from the start, Republicans hammered their central theme: the president and lawmakers have to start over.

“We have to start by putting the current bill on the shelf and starting with a clean sheet of paper,” Alexander said, as Obama looked on and jotted down some notes.

He also pushed back on the White House notion of a comprehensive bill – “we don’t do comprehensive well. Our country is too big, too complicated for Washington to write all the rules.”

The American people “have tried to say in every way they know how, that they opposed the health care that passed the senate on Christmas Eve, and more important, we want to talk about, we think we have a better idea, and that is to take many of the examples you’ve just mentioned about reducing health care costs,. . .and start over, and let’s go step by step through that goal,” Alexander said.

Pelosi (D-Calif.) was the first Democrat to reject the call.

Struggling families, she said, "don’t have time for us to start over. Many of them are at the end of the line with their insurance.”

Obama as usual stretched the point to a half truth on the premium hikes with the Senate's Bill and CBO scoring. On page 4 the CBO states it will increase premiums by 10-13%, while Obama says it saves 14-20%. What a croc of lies. Obama says the savings is based on people buying better premiums. A joke.

As usual, wrong. The GOP is showing this for what it is. A government mandate on minimum coverage and then commissions set up to further decide what your HC is. The GOP has great points for us small business owners. Start this from scratch, go for the money savings in fraud to what Tom Coleburn said find the 600-800 billion first,,,,, and Obama won't answer the GOP about the nuclear option, he just avoided it. Wimpy.

75% of Americans DO NOT WANT health care reform as proposed by Obama and the democrats!!

The democrats don't want to listen because they do not care what the American people think. This is what THOUSANDS of Americans are saying on our website EVERY DAY:

Dear employees, our Representatives in Washington DC,

“When I look at the Bill up for vote it concerns me greatly. It concerns me greatly because everyone seems to want to change the entire system without regard to bipartisan agreement. The American people have made it clear time and time again through various polling that they want this process restarted, that they want this process to be taken in smaller steps. This much seems reasonable. In manufacturing, changes occur very carefully to correct problems, issues, and challenges. Never is an entire system changed without research, development, and experimentation. Careful steps are taken to change causes, one-at-a-time, in order to evaluate and make necessary corrections and measure effects before moving to the next item. Root causes would never be found and the company would fail, that is a fact, not an opinion. Congress should identify the top areas of concern and develop plans to address each area separately. To ram through an all-inclusive fix all is simply irresponsible and destined for problems, issues, and challenges that will only cause greater expense to a country already in a deep recession.” - Christopher, Milwaukee, WI

“I am writing this e-mail to inform you that I am most strongly opposed to the government health care initiative. Small businesses and taxpayers can't afford the trillions of dollars in new taxes that would be required to support this initiative. We currently have the best health care system in the world and the majority of Americans are pleased with their current health care services. Please do not support a government plan that would disrupt the current system and replace it with a program which has the potential to decrease prompt accessibility of care, compromise quality of care, put a bureaucrat between patients and their physicians, result in rationing of care, cutting Medicare payments leading to compromised care for Medicare recipients and which would require trillions of dollars in tax hikes affecting small businesses and taxpayers including our children and grandchildren. It seems it would be much more rational and economically sound to work with the current system, which already provides the finest medical care in the world in an efficient manner, and develop initiatives to address the the limited areas of concern such as ensuring coverage for the currently uninsured and individuals with preexisting conditions. I hope that the American people can count on your resistance to a government takeover of our healthcare system. The move toward socialism with government ownership and control over our lives, along with excessive taxation and redistribution of wealth, has a stifling effect on individual initiative and the success of free enterprise and ultimately will have a significant negative impact on the future of our country and its citizens.” - Mary, Norfolk, VA

“FIRST -- No Reconcilation ("Neuclear Option") on this power grab and proposed take over of 1/6th of our economy. We, the not so stupid American Voters, your employers are all against this type of bill. Scrap it. Start over with the Capitalist and free market proposals such as Tort Reform. Unless you are too beholding and under the control of the trial lawyers and unions! (In which case you need to resign your office, you cannot do your job.)

SECONDLY: Why is the owner of GM scrutinizing, investigating, and defaming their competition? Why are special interests, with a monetary motivation for Toyota to fail or falter involved in this investigation? How many Federal agencies does it take to RE-DO, the job of looking into this. We have a Transportation Department for this, and this is the "wasteful spending" we are partly referring to... unnecessary Committees and hearings and investigations, repetition of the same job by multiple agencies.. a waste of time and money and a distraction from the more important Socialist and/or Facist take over of our nation going on via the destruction of the dollar and our economy, intentional I might ad.

All progressives, liberals, and RINOs have to go... the Supreme Court must start referring to the original Constitution and not possibly erroneous and Unconstitutional rulings by previous courts. And, the Legislature needs to remember that it has the power and obligation to uphold the Constitution when the Supreme Court fails, correcting them through legislation according the the founders and Constitution.

Americans are fed up with earmarks, special favors, lobbyists, payoffs to Senators (Nebraska) to vote a certain way, giving billions of our money to other countries when we don't have money. You keep borrowing and spending money and have now hit an all-time high Government deficit. Pay off the Federal deficit with money from earmarks, money used for special interests, money towards grants and funding to Acorn and other organizations. Put a freeze on all Federal Employees salaries, expense accounts, and payment for overtime. You in Government give something up and tighten your own budget. No bailouts! Let the companies fail.

I am sure you can find other frivalous spending that can be stopped. GET RID OF THIS DEFICIT. We don't own our country--China and other rich countries own us.

You our representatives have failed us.

Our government spent our Social Security money by transferring it to a General Fund. Now you expect us to trust you with Healthcare. NO MORE TAXES ON FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL. WE ARE FED UP. “ - Terry, Kingston, NY

“IF THIS GOES TO RECONCILIATION --IN GOD WE TRUST WE MARCH MILLIONS ON WASHINGTON TO BEIGN IMPEACHMENT OF OBAMA AND RECALL ALL HIS SOCAILIST,UN-AMERICAN ,ASHAMED OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED AND SERVED FOR THIS COUNTRY,MUSLIM NOT JESUS CHRIST DEATH LOVING GOD--WHO DIED FOR US-----------------WHAT A LIE FOR A PRESIDENT!!!!--PELOISIE,BIEDEN,RIED ,THE SHAME OF YOU REPRESENTING US BUT GOD SEE'S IT AND HATES IT-WHEN GOD HAS ENOUGH” - Doug, Dewitt, IA

“I do not want healthcare reform. Your legislation does nothing to help the middle class, it is a waste of our money. Tort reform, ability to purchase insurance anywhere, and more competition, both in the medical field and insurance will lower cost not government mandates. Do not support the Senate bill!! “ - Troy, Johnston, IA

“Americans are tired of the political shell game. We are tired of business as usual. We have the tools to know who you are and what you are really doing. We will no longer tolerate dishonesty. We do need health care reform, but you have wasted a year on something we do not want as it is. Every day Americans are losing their jobs. My wife had her real estate career stolen by corporate people aided and abated by polititions. STOP IT. “ - Daniel, Deltona, FL

“Why do Senators, Representatives and government staff have undisputable cushy healthcare insurance coverage? I believe we need to level the playing field for ALL Americans to have good health care insurance coverage. All US Representatives, all US Senators and all government staff should be REMOVED from the cushy health insurance they now take for granted and the rest of Americans need and deserve. If the Senators and Representatives are voting for their OWN rights to good healthcare insurance coverage, as well as for the rest of America, they will be much more interested in passing bipartison legislation in a very timely manner. When Senators, Representatives and their staff are sitting with their own cushy health care insurance coverage while ruminating and haggling and refusing to vote on fair coverage for the rest of America--they are in fact saying, "Let them eat cake". “ - Jill, Minneapolis, MN

“I have just finished looking at the President's proposal to "fix" healthcare. This is as much of an abomination as the bills that you passed earlier. This country was founded on the principle of SMALLER government. Which part of that do you not understand? I realize that all of you who are "progressives" are aware of this and just don't think that the public cares one way or the other, but you are WRONG. Those of you who are not progressives and voted for the previous legisalation ought to avail yourselves of the mirror on your wall. I can understand why the "progressives" voted for it, but I do not understand why the rest of you did. Progressives are people to be pitied. The have been brainwashed into their thought patterns and really are hopelessly lost as effective legislators and human beings. The rest of you ought to know better. Stand up for this country and send this proposal into a recycling bin where it belongs. Progressives, you really need to think about getting your resume ready. The election is in November. “ - David, Riverton, WY

“I'm writing to ask you to please reject ANY attempt to force socialized health care or government-mandated health insurance on Americans.

The plans currently being pushed by the Democratic leadership would create a government takeover of healthcare, with a price tag of $2.5 trillion over 10 years, giant slashes to the already under-funded Medicare, expansion of Medicaid, huge tax increases that would cost an estimated five million American jobs and stifle medical innovation, and individual mandates to purchase government-approved insurance plans -- just to name a few. Polls show that the majority of Americans are OPPOSED to ANY such attempts at imposing government-controlled healthcare. And to add insult to injury, the press is reporting that Democratic leaders plan to pass their plans using a so-called reconciliation bill, a seldom-used procedure that only requires a simple majority of votes for Senate passage -- which would be unprecedented for social legislation of this cost and scale.

This whole thing is OUTRAGEOUS, and YOU must stop it. Please, do the RIGHT thing -- reject ANY attempt to force socialized health care or government-mandated health insurance on Americans, no matter WHAT form it may take. We will do whatever it takes to defeat you in your next election if you vote for this bill! Thank you. “ - Glenn, Jenks, OK

“"NO" progressive government takeover of health care and health insurance, now or ever!

This is a setup by the Democrats pure and simple. They know that the Republicans will not agree, so they are using this as an excuse to use the Nuclear Option (reconcilliation) in the Senate. Question is, with their recent election disasters in SC, NJ, an MA, do the Democrats still have the votes they need to pass any healthcare bill in the House?

The "wonky debate" is the only part of this worth mentioning. The rest is partisan posturing. In the end we'll all feel as though we wasted our time watching this opera when Whip'n'Chief Ron Enamel starts pushing the fire hose down the Dem reps throats. Then it will be a choice: suicide or wait for the mass executions to begin in November.

Obama as usual stretched the point to a half truth on the premium hikes with the Senate's Bill and CBO scoring. On page 4 the CBO states it will increase premiums by 10-13%, while Obama says it saves 14-20%. What a croc of lies. Obama says the savings is based on people buying better premiums. A joke.

As usual, wrong. The GOP is showing this for what it is. A government mandate on minimum coverage and then commissions set up to further decide what your HC is. The GOP has great points for us small business owners. Start this from scratch, go for the money savings in fraud to what Tom Coleburn said find the 600-800 billion first,,,,, and Obama won't answer the GOP about the nuclear option, he just avoided it. Wimpy.

Very good post. Just wanted to give you a shout out.

I feel the Democrats and particularly Obama have found themselves on the defensive. Especially since the Republicans are asking to take it slow and hammer out all the necessary steps (not the steps the Liberals want to pound down our throats because they are elitists and feel the know what is best). Lets create a good bill the first time, not one that will most likely be found unconstitutional in 2 years and we have to restart from scratch.

The way the Liberals are going about this will actually cause healthcare reform to come to a screaching halt and cause reform to be needed again and again and again.

The President is handling this OK but seems not to have an overall plan of attack. Reid and Pelosi come off as petulant and condescending. If I were a DEM I would hope neither one is giving another chance to speak. The Republicans have nothing to gain from this meeting thus not much content from any of the speakers yet. Obama is quite correct in saying that the gap is too wide. Neither party has a common approach that the opther party could or would accept.If the Dems won't accept even tort reform this meeting is over. Pure theater from now to the end.

What a sham! Obama says it's OK to tell him what you like in the bill and he'll even listen to things you want to add, but he's not interested in hearing what's not liked and what should be eliminated. He thinks he can toss their masive government takeover of healthcare, throw the Republicans a few bones, and then ram it through Congress with reconciliation claiming it's the only way to keep from doing nothing.

Every Republican speaker is met with his arrogant, condescending smirks and laughter.

He could care less what Americans think or want. I can't wait to see him find out in November and then again in 2012.

Coleburn says tort reform immediately would give us premium relief from the 625-800 Billion wasted a year in tests for Dr's not patients and in frivilous Lawsuits. Obama says in the Bill they leave it to the states to put in provisions. Our premiums could go down NOW. Rejected by the Democrats, and just who is the party of obstruction? Dems.

Really go after a simple 2-5 point cost savings system first, not a 2400 page monster bad Bill. Obama needs to say just scratch it and start over. it's clear the Dems are playing defense on this.

Why are you calling reconciliation the "nuclear option"? The nuclear option is for one party to get rid of the filibuster. Remember 2005? Republicans threatened to get rid of the filibuster, saying it was the "nuclear option".

Stop using talking points as if you actually understood what they mean. Think for yourself and not what Fox News tells you to think. Do you own research.

The CBO found that premiums drop for some policyholders, but increase for others, depending on whether they buy insurance on the individual or group market. But the reason why some people would see increases is because they would choose to buy more comprehensive insurance plans that would inevitably be more expensive.

Mr Kyle pointed out to President Obama that the less expensive health care policies are not available in this bill. The base line of the bill puts the costs above any savings that they would realize from manageing waste and fraud etc.. Mr Obama chose to talk about his less than adequate auto insurance while he was in college and compare this to the policies people currently have for health care. His claim that the cost would be less according to CBO reports although partially correct is swallowed in whole by the cost of the base line policy. In other words the insurance policy you have today would realize a $3500.00 reduction in price if you could keep it. The exchanges would only offer policies that would cost more than your current policy so you would not receive any relief in cost at all but would pay more in insurance for additional services and coverage you may or may not want or need.

If most Americans do not like the current bills, the Republicans will not lose any support by not caving to the Democratic agenda. It does not look like the Democrats have anything to say that will change the minds of those apposed to this legislation.